Minors into Semi Final

Post date: Sep 15, 2013 9:50:0 PM

Edenderry 2-10

Tullamore 1-03

The Minor Footballers showed their battling qualities in very difficult conditions last Sunday morning in Edenderry. Playing with the aid of a gale forced wind in the first half Edenderry could only manage 0-04 and absorbed an inordinate amount of pressure from the Blues and were lucky only to concede 0-02. At the start of the second half and with no let up in the wind all the smart money would have been on Tullamore to pull off a shock and beat the Reds. However Edenderry came out fighting and some boys became men as the powered to a 10 point win and a Semi Final spot in the Minor Football Championship.

Edenderry raced into an early lead and looked as if they were going to take full advantage of the wind. However Tullamore soon got on top around the middle and Edenderry struggled to get it past the halfway line thereafter. Some stout defending was required, Karl Murphy, Mark Abbott and Jamie O’Connor were immense while a very alert Cian Brereton was kept on his toes and was called into action on more than one occasion, coming out bravely when required. Despite their dominance Tullamore were very wasteful in front of goal but playing into the stiff wind scored 0-02 to Edenderry’s 0-04.

Stern words at half-time from the Edenderry mentors seemed to pay off as the Reds bagged an early point but all the hard work was undone when a speculative hand pass across the goal was fisted to the net by the Tullamore men leaving it all square. However the concession of the goal sparked life into Edenderry and a reshuffle of players combined with improved work-rate across the pitch saw a return on the scoreboard. Valuable points were tagged on before Adam Mahon showing all his experience of playing at Senior level made a penetrating run at goal and fisted across for Aaron McDonnell to fist home. Edenderry began to play much smarter thereafter and when Ciaran Farrell rattled the net with a shot from long range the large Edenderry support relaxed for the first time knowing they were well on their way.

It was certainly a game of two halves and Edenderry have much to work on for the upcoming Semi-Final but the management team will be encouraged by the maturity and hunger of the performance. Everyone played their part in this win from Cian Brereton, through the full back line with the battling abilities of Mark Abbott an insirpation, Adam Mahon, Maloney & Lawton at midfield and upfront Ciaran Farrell worked very hard along with Kenny, McDonnell & Dolan. The Edenderry bench played their part too and David Hughes & Matthew O’Grady provided fresh legs when required.

TEAM;

C. Brereton, J. O’Connor, K. Murphy, M. Abbott, A. Moules, A. Mahon, R. Mangan, D. Maloney, C. Lawton, J. Dolan, C. Farrell, J. Hayes, A. Kenny, A. McDonnell, L. Nolan.

SUBS: D. O’Connor for R. Mangan, D. Hughes for J. O’Connor, M. O’Grady for J. Hayes